Carolina Wins Thrilling 2025 CAC Men’s Basketball Championship

Eighth-seeded Carolina University (North Carolina) successfully defended a go-ahead three-point field goal attempt in the closing seconds to defeat No. 6 seed Spartanburg Methodist College (South Carolina) 64-62 to win the 2025 Continental Athletic Conference men's basketball championship on Sunday night in the tournament finale in Lawrence, Kansas.

Carolina will now represent the CAC in the NAIA national tournament, starting with first-round games on March 14.

Spartanburg Methodist's Bryan Bayonne missed the 3-pointer from the left wing in the last-second attempt for the victory.

Carolina's 15-1 run late in the first half gave the team a 28-16 lead after Chris High's layup came with 5:03 left. A 3-point field goal by Davon Cottle extended the lead to 36-19 at the 1:35 mark.

The Bruins took a 38-23 halftime lead and started the second half strong as Aundree Polk made a layup in the opening minutes.

However, SMC scored 15 straight points in the second half to trim the deficit to two points, at 40-38, after a basket by Kennedy Aiken-Shannon with 13:02 left. A pair of free throws by Bayonne gave the Pioneers a 46-43 advantage midway through the second half.

Both teams swapped the lead in the final minutes after the game was tied at 55-55 following a 3-pointer by High at the 5:21 mark. Cottle converted a 3-point play to give the Bruins a 58-56 lead one minute later. The lead grew to 64-59 after a 3-pointer by Cameron Buchanan with less than two minutes remaining.

Spartanburg Methodist had a chance late in the contest after High missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw situation with 10 seconds left. After a timeout and trailing by two points the Pioneers elected to go for the lead.

High led the Bruins with 24 points and Cottle chipped in 12 points during the victory.

Bayonne recorded a double-double for the Pioneers with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Kelton Teasley added 12 points and 12 rebounds for the team.

2025 Continental Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Championship All-Tournament Team

Most Outstanding Player: Aundree Polk, Carolina University

Chris High, Carolina University

Dakota Sampson, Carolina University

Bryan Bayonne, Spartanburg Methodist College

Tavarez Lacy, Spartanburg Methodist College

Ryan Gordan, Arkansas Baptist College

Tahj-Malik Campbell, Northern New Mexico College